[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 164 (Thursday, August 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50048-50049]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14031]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Transfer of Cannon Air Force Base and Melrose Air Force Range From 
Air Combat Command to Air Force Special Operations Command

AGENCY: Department of the Air Force, Air Force Special Operations 
Command, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321-4347), the Council on Environmental 
Quality (CEQ) NEPA Regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 
parts 1500-1508), and the United States Air Force's (USAF) 
Environmental Impact Analysis Process (EIAP, 32 CFR part 989), the Air 
Force is preparing an EIS to consider the proposed action of 
transferring certain Air Force Special Operations equipment and 
personnel to Cannon AFB. The Air Force proposes to transfer aircraft 
and personnel from Hurlburt Field, Florida, or other existing 
operational locations to Cannon AFB, New Mexico. Potential AFSOC assets 
to beddown include aircraft, weapons systems, equipment, and personnel. 
Growth is planned through Fiscal Year 2013 at Cannon AFB, and AFSOC 
proposes to begin utilizing Melrose Air Force Range (AFR), existing 
training airspace, and existing Military Training Routes from Cannon 
AFB. This NOI describes the Air Force's scoping process and identifies 
the Air Force's point of contact. As part of the proposal, the Air 
Force will analyze potential environmental impacts associated with the 
proposed aircraft, equipment, and personnel transfer, beddown, 
training, and operations.
    Background: On June 19, 2006, in accordance with the 2005 Defense 
Base Closure and Realignment Commission Report, the SECDEF designated 
the AFSOC's establishment of the 16th Special Operations Wing at Cannon

[[Page 50049]]

AFB, beginning October 2007, as the new mission for that base. The EIS 
will analyze the impacts of that proposed action on the environment. 
AFSOC is considering what aircraft and other equipment to base at 
Cannon AFB, how best to utilize existing facilities, and what 
facilities will need to be modified or built. The proposed action will 
consider moving approximately 90 aircraft and approximately 3,500 
personnel to the base. It is possible that additional facilities may 
need to be constructed at Melrose AFR. The impacts from the proposed 
actions will be considered in the EIS. In addition, the EIS will also 
address alternatives to the proposed action, including a ``no action'' 
alternative. Because the proposed action is to be taken as the result 
of the BRAC directive to the SECDEF to designate a new mission for 
Cannon AFB, the basing/installation alternative will be limited to the 
confines of Cannon AFB and Melrose AFR; however, the airspace 
alternatives will include Melrose AFR, surrounding Military Training 
Routes and Military Operations Areas (MOAs) including the Mt Dora MOA, 
Pecos MOA Complex and Bronco MOA.

DATES: The Air Force will hold a series of scoping meetings to solicit 
public input concerning the scope of the proposed action and 
alternatives, as well as to help identify other concerns and issues to 
be addressed in the environmental analysis. The scheduled dates, times, 
locations, and addresses for the scoping meetings are as follows:
    1. September 18, 2006--Monday, 6-8 p.m., at Clovis and Portales, 
NM, Clovis Community College, 417 Schepps Blvd.
    2. September 19, 2006--Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., at Clayton, NM, Clayton 
High School, 323 South Fifth Street.
    3. September 20, 2006--Wednesday, 6-8 p.m., at Fort Sumner, NM, 
Fort Sumner Community House, 137 East Baker Avenue.
    No additional meetings are scheduled at this time. In addition to 
comments received at the scoping meetings, any written comments on the 
scope of the EIS received at the address below by October 5, 2006, will 
be considered in the preparation of this EIS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Carl T. Hoffman, HQ AFSOC/A7CV, 
427 Cody Ave., Suite 225, Hurlburt Field, FL 32544-5434, (850) 884-
5984.

Bao-Anh Trinh,
DAF, Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E6-14031 Filed 8-23-06; 8:45 am]
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